protection | Revelations From The Road

He’s Here!

November 13, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)

I was driving to church and was asking God to be with us as we gathered in His name on this morning. The Bible says He will never leave us or forsake us, (Hebrews 13:5) so I knew He would be with us during our service. That, however, started a thinking process of the different ways and places God is with us.

If we’re saved and have asked Jesus into our lives, the Holy Spirit is in us, (Acts 2:38), so as we gather together in church, we bring God in with us. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20). But then when we begin our praise and worship time, there is a different presence. The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people, (Psalm 22:3), so when we begin to praise and worship Him, I can see our praises going up and the Spirit of God inhabits those praises swirling around above us. What a powerful scene! This will also happen wherever we are; in the car, at home, while walking, when we lift our praises to Him. He’s there.

There are other times when God is near us. He is all around us. “And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!”(Romans 15:13).

He goes before us, “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. (Deuteronomy 31:8).

He is behind us, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21).

He is beside us, “The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.” (Psalm 121:5).

So, as we can see, God is always near. But let’s not wander off from His presence. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8). He’s here!

The Circle

April 17, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

At Zion Family Ministries, we have prayer on Monday nights starting at 7:00 P.M. You are welcome to join us. We pray individually for about 40 minutes then gather to share anything God showed us during our praying time. Last Monday, I started my time with God, as I usually do, circling the sanctuary three times as I pray for our church. On this night, I was brought to the thought of a circle which opened up several ideas of circles both in history, in the Bible and in our lives. Let’s look at these.

My friend and neighbor, Pastor Danny Smith, introduced me to the book, “The Circle Maker” by Mark Batterson which tells the story of a Jewish scholar, Honi, who was living in Israel when there was a drought. He drew a circle, stood in it and prayed to God for rain and that he would not leave that circle until it rained. He persisted in his circle and, in time, it rained. Batterson’s point was that we can circle our needs in prayer and believe God for the answer. Circle them physically with prayer or virtually in prayer.

I remember, as a kid, watching movies or TV shows where a group of settlers were traveling west in a wagon train and would face an eminent attack from Indians. To prepare for battle and to protect their cattle and belongings, they would “circle the wagons”. Then they could better do battle and preserve their lives and possessions. We need to circle up.

I Joshua 6:3, as God’s people came to the fortified city of Jericho, He tells them, “And ye shall compass, (circle), the city, all ye men of war, and go round, (circle), about the city once.” It sounded like something strange for them to do but, since God said it, they did it. And their marching around the city was accompanied with loud praise and worship. When they completed their last circle with a loud shout, the walls of Jericho fell down flat! Is there something you need? Circle it with prayer, praise and worship.

Several years ago, I posted a revelation from God on my blog about a “circle of prayer”. You can read the entire post HERE. The vision was of different churches in a large field circled and praying for needs in their church. One group heard the needs of the circle beside them and asked if they could join circles and pray together. They did and it multiplied until all the churches were joined, hand in hand, in a large circle around the whole field praying. The devil and his demons saw this, knew they were in trouble and left the area. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) There is power in unity!

I was also reminded once of the possible influence I may have on certain people. God showed me this was my “circle of influence”. Those in my family, friends, co-workers and others who could be influenced by my words, my actions and my life. We all have this circle and we can have an influence on them, either positive or negative. I also realized that there are people who are not in our circle but may be outside looking in. That can be an influence as well. How we act in public, a kindness we show to someone or even a smile can be an influence. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).

And finally, as I was writing this, I was reminded of the praise song, “Surrounded” by Michael W. Smith which has the lyric, “It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by You.” God is always with us and surrounds, circles, us with His love, mercy, grace blessings and protection. “God’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.” (Psalm 34:7). We are in His circle, rest easy.

Jesus Is With You

November 28, 2020 by Bill Leave a Comment

“I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5 GNT)

God speaks to me a lot about our journey on the Path of Life. There have been so many lessons He has taught me “on the Path” and I want to share one with you today.

As the verse above says, if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He is always with us wherever we go. But in this lesson, God showed me that Jesus may be in different locations with us on the Path. Try to picture these different scenarios.

Jesus will lead you. Picture yourself on the Path and Jesus in in front of you leading the way, holding out His hand, saying, “Follow Me.”. “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.” (Isaiah 48:17 NLT). “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3). Pay attention, keep your eyes on Him and follow Him. Now, sometimes it may be really dark, and you’re hesitant about moving on but you hear this: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Keep going.

Jesus will be beside you. Picture you and Jesus on the path and He is walking beside you maybe holding your hand. “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” (Psalm 16:8 NLT).

Jesus will be behind you. You’re on the path wondering which way to go but you hear a loving, all-knowing voice right behind you encouraging you to go on. “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). God told Jehoshaphat to go to the battle lines with Israel’s army when it seemed impossible for them to be victorious, but God was backing them up. (2 Chronicles 20).

Jesus will carry you. Sometimes you will be so worn out and burdened on the Path that you think you just can’t go on. Then: “I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” (Isaiah 46:4 NLT). Even when you fall, He will pick you up and carry you if needed.

And the last thing I learned from the Mind of the Master was that this journey on the Path to our final destination is a process. God is with us all along the way, but He doesn’t want to carry us all the way. He wants to train us, to strengthen us, to teach us, to increase our faith and develop us so we can successfully complete our mission. You know, getting to Heaven is not the only mission we have. We are to be servants and helpers to others along the way. Jesus wants us to be changed: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Be like Jesus, He’s with us…let’s go!

Seasons

November 21, 2020 by Bill 1 Comment

A former co-worker of mine passed away recently and as I drove back from the visitation at the funeral home, I didn’t take the four-lane route but took the long way up the valley. I wanted to take my time, pray and enjoy the wonders of Gods creation. And, as usual when I’m driving, God began to show me some things, From the Mind of the Master.

I noticed the trees on the mountain side and one tree in particular along the road, it looked like it was dead. No green leaves, no signs of life, just standing there beside the road…looking dead. But I know that’s not the case. Even though it looks dead, there is life inside it. So, how does this pertain to our lives? What is the message God wants to get to us?

“And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons,” (Genesis 1:14). Just like there are seasons for trees and plants, there are seasons for God’s most treasured creation…man, us. Just as a tree goes through its seasons, so do we. Just as a tree may look dead, it has life inside, and so do we. Just as a tree endures cold, heat, storms and wind, God takes care of it and so He does for us. What season are you in now?

In September of 2016, my mother was moved into a long-term care facility. As I came home from a visit one day, I noticed a partially brown leaf that had fallen from the tree next to my driveway. I picked it up and looked at it. God reminded me that it had budded in the Spring, grew to its fullness in Summer providing shade and benefits for other plants and animals and the atmosphere through photosynthesis. In the Fall, the leaf nears the end of its life and falls to the ground, seemingly done with its purpose. But…as it decomposes, it provides nutrients to the soil, and my garden, during the Winter. But that’s the end of the leaf, it has served its created purpose. But God showed me that it’s not like that for people. Sure, we go through seasons of life; beginning as a helpless baby, growing during youth and learning in midlife beginning to realize and achieve our mission, entering adulthood and hopefully continuing with our God-given purpose. But then there is, “a time to be born and a time to die,” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). Yes, there is a time allotted to each of us to die. But, unlike that leaf who had completed its purpose through its seasons, when we die and go back into the ground, and if we have accepted Jesus, our new life, our new season is only beginning! It’s not over for us, we have a home in Heaven and eternal life with the Father. No more seasons.

When the Spring season comes for that tree, the signs of life will again begin to appear. Buds, leaves, beautiful green colors. God has planned it that way and He sustains the tree for its life. God will sustain us too in every season of our lives. God is with us all the way, (Joshua 1:5), and He will carry us through our seasons. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). A time for every purpose and a purpose for every season. So, whatever season you’re in now, know that God is with you and He has a purpose. Trust Him, believe and you will make it through.

Your Shoulders

May 2, 2020 by Bill Leave a Comment

Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been borne by Me from birth And have been carried from the womb; Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you.” (Isaiah 46:3-4).

I recently heard as song on Sirius XM The Message, from the group King and Country entitled, “Shoulders”. As happens with me often, I began to envision the lyrics and this one line stood out to me: “You are my rest, my rescue. I don’t have to see to believe that You’re lifting me up on Your shoulders, Your shoulders.” God will do that when we’re weak or in trouble. Then, I recalled another song, “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban, which has a similar message. I blogged about that song in 2019, you can see it here: https://bit.ly/2Swh7eO.

In thinking about these two songs and the vision of God lifting/raising someone up on His shoulders, I got two different scenarios. The first is of a child who encounters danger on the Path of Life. As always, God is with them, (Matthew 28:20), and as the child turns in fear, God is there and lifts them up and sets them on His shoulders. The source of the danger sees the power of God and flees. The danger is gone, and He sets the child back on the Path, kneels down and says, “I’ll always be here with you, so you don’t have to be afraid.” “You can come to me anytime and I’ll pick you up.” “But, as you get older, I’m going to teach you how to use My armor and weapons so, if you stick with Me, you can face the danger with My power and authority and chase the danger off yourself.” “You who have been borne by Me from birth And have been carried from the womb; I will carry you.” The child is happy and gives God a big hug.

Then came the next vision, that of an old man or woman on the Path having trouble navigating the way. God is still there with them to provide whatever they need to continue on. This time however, the old person knows God is there and purposely turns to Him saying, “God, I’m having trouble here, I need your help.” God smiles and says, “Come here, I’ll pick you up and we’ll continue on.” “Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you;” The old person puts their arms around God’s neck and says, “Thank You Father, I love You!” Can you see it?

If you’re going through a hard time right now, if you feel you’re in danger or can’t find your way, Father God is right there with you and is ready to raise you up, pick you up or carry you as far as you need to go. Just call out to Him.